News Now Blog

Fremont County Fire Ban

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The Fremont County Commissioners have adopted a countywide fire ban at the request of Fremont County Sheriff Jim Beicker. The Commissioners approved a resolution imposing the fire ban at their regular meeting July 12th. Extreme fire danger conditions have elevated the risk of wildfires. The fire ban closely follows Stage One Fire Restrictions put into place by the U.S. Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management on all federal lands in Fremont County effective July 13th.

C-4 Dam Update

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Officials from the Colorado State Office of the U.S.D.A.’s Natural Resources Conservation District have detailed their engineering design plans to repair a floodwater control dam south of Canon City. The N.R.C.S. staff members reported to the Fremont County Commissioners and citizens at a July 7th meeting that plans are to complete the design work and bidding process so that reconstruction of the C-4 Dam can get underway this fall.

C-4 Dam Public Meeting

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The Fremont County Office of Emergency Management, the Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS), and the Fremont County Commissioners host a public meeting Thursday evening, July 7th, to discuss the status of the C-4 flood control dam south of Canon City. Due to subsidence of soil in parts of the dam the Colorado State Engineer’s Office issued a breach order to the County last year. The breach order requires that Fremont County either take steps to repair the dam or breach it.

June 28th Meeting Review

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The Fremont County Board of Commissioners authorized more engineering and design work on the County’s portion of the new Pathfinder Park at Tuesday’s regular meeting. The Board adopted a resolution that authorizes an expenditure of up to $60,000 in Conservation Trust Funds (lottery money) with D.H.M. Design and Matrix Engineering. The firms’ work will include master plans for utilities and drainage on Fremont County’s 47 acres at Pathfinder Park along Highway 115 west of Florence.

Code Enforcement Activity

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Activity by the Code Enforcement Officers in Fremont County’s Planning and Zoning Department from January through May of 2005 was up by eight (8) percent over the same five month period a year ago. Code Enforcement Officers Robert Sapp and Walter Elkins reported to the Fremont County Commissioners that they worked 79 code violation complaints from January through May and have now brought 39 of those, or nearly half, into compliance.

Building Department Changes

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While Fremont County building inspectors are working diligently to handle calls for building inspections across the county, a traffic accident last Thursday temporarily took one building inspector out of the office. County Building Official Mike Cox reports that things had been going relatively smoothly since the June 1st transition when authority for the issuance of all western Fremont County building permits and inspections reverted to the main Building Department Office at the County Administration Building.

June 14th Meeting Review

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The Fremont County Commissioners approved a 22nd Amendment to the Fremont County Zoning Resolution at their June 14th regular meeting that deals with restrictions on construction of duplexes in several zone districts and with restrictions on the use of storage and shipping containers.

Deer Mountain Fire District Fire Ban

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The Deer Mountain Fire District Board has imposed a local fire ban district wide. The action was taken by the Board of Directors at a meeting June 7th. Deer Mountain Fire District Board President Byron Alsup said ample winter moisture created plenty of fire fuels, and weather in recent weeks has produced brisk winds, low relative humidity, and warmer temperatures.

West Nile Virus Precautions

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Information from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment – News Release

DENVER - It's time again for Coloradoans to take personal precautions against West Nile virus.
"The key to averting West Nile virus is reducing the likelihood of exposure to the mosquitoes that carry the disease; to put it succinctly, fight the bite with a pre-emptive strike," said Douglas H. Benevento, executive director of the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.

County Assessor Valuation Appeals

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Staff at the Fremont County Assessor’s Office is busy during June reviewing appeals of property valuation assessments. 2005 is a reappraisal year in Colorado and notices of valuation were mailed on May 1st. Assessor’s Office staff members spent many hours during May with property owners reviewing assessed values. Deputy Assessor Pam Gaunt reports that the Assessor’s Office received 76 appeals of commercial property values and over 1,100 appeals of residential property values.